As we, once again, gather to honour Mwalimu Julius
Nyerere and reflect on his exemplary contribution to human development, our
attention is drawn to challenges that seem to increasingly divert the
development direction of our countries away from the people-centered
development ideals to which Mwalimu Nyerere and like minded African leaders
devoted their lives.

Africa is quoted as having witnessed significant
economic growth in recent years, recording a growth of 5.8% in 2014 as compared
to the global 3%, with many of its countries recording an 8% annual GDP growth.
This economic growth is, to a large extent, attributed to the adoption of
liberal and free market economic opportunities and interventions plus the
intensification of private sector control of the means of economic production.

This economic success, however, has not necessarily
translated into tangible improvement of the living conditions of the majority
of the continent’s citizenry. Poverty rates in Sub Sahara Africa are still
high, standing at 46.8% for people living under 1.25$ a day (2011).

In Tanzania, for example, the recently launched
Tanzania Human Development Report 2014 states that “ Unfortunately,in recent
decades Tanzania did not develop in a way desired by the nation’s father.
Contrary to the strong desire set soon after independence to build a nation
with high levels of human development, the state of human development in
Tanzania to date is still low”(ESRF/UNDP/URT:
2015).

This observation is backed by an alarming increase in
media reports on conflicts over land grabbing by foreign and local investors,
land evictions of peasant communities, conflicts over mining rights between
small scale and large scale miners, conflicts between rural communities and
government over land reserves or conflicts over land between agricultural and pastoralist
communities.

Such conflicts are a manifestation that something is
going amiss and violating the economic, social and human rights of the ordinary
citizenry, particularly rural grassroots communities who seem to bear the brunt
of the forces of rapid and deep entrenchment of capitalism Africa is going
through.

The capitalist character of
free market, cut throat competition, maximization of profit, exploitation for
profit, individual drive for quick wealth have ushered in a rise in human
rights violations and social injustices against those unable to protect
themselves against the economically powerful. For many grassroots communities
in Africa, the social cost of capitalism far outweighs the widely publicized
economic benefits. Economic exploitation, unemployment, lack of access to basic
needs and services and poverty in general are intensifying.

While recognizing that scholars
have widely engaged in an analysis of these developments, the 7th Mwalimu
Nyerere Festival has selected the theme of “ Privatization and Social Justice
for Grassroots Communities” in order to further interrogate this situation.
Furthermore, we have opted to give a voice to grassroots communities to talk
about their experiences relating to privatization and social justice for their
communities. Representatives from grassroots communities from Tanzania, Kenya,
Uganda and South Africa will speak on cases of conflicts over land and mining rights
and highlight what strategies they are adopting to deal with the challenges
posed.

It is hoped that the voices
from these grassroots communities will provide a people’s perspective of the
magnitude of development challenges on the ground and feed into the analysis
and debate on what action is required to mitigate the social injustices to the
continent’s citizenry arising out of privatization processes.

We wish you a very fruitful
and enriching intellectual and social engagement during the festival and thank
you for coming.

What do Human Rights Standards Tell Us about
Privatization and How to Use Human Rights Tools and Mechanisms – Experiences
from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and other Countries- Sylvain Aubry, Researcher,
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Kenya.

New Rural Struggles on the Platinum Belt: A case of
the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela, North West Province, South Africa- Dr Sonwabile
Mnwana- Researcher- Society, Work and Development Institute (SWOP) University
of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

2015 Votes to End Injustices on Resources - Alphonce
Stima- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Schooling in Pseudo Capitalist Tanzania- The Clash
Between Education for Egalitarianism and Education for Elitism and Entrepreneurship-
Prof Kitila Mkumbo- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Eurocentric Privatization and Social Justice in
African Economic Welfare: An Afro-centric Critique of Neo Classical Economics
for Sustainable Development in East Africa- Dr Cammilius Kassala, University of
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Karibu kwenye ulingo wa kutafakari kuhusu tunapotoka,tulipo,tuendako na namna ambavyo tutafika huko tuendako/Welcome to a platform for reflecting on where we are coming from, where we are, where we are going and how we will get there